I gave a talk in church today about the talk in April General Conference that was by Elder Alan R. Walker titled "A Peculiar Treasure"
When Elder Walker was a young boy he loved stories about treasure. So much so that when he would visit his grandparents in Mendoza Argentina, he would go to the mountains and collect glittery rocks in hopes to break them open and find a real treasure but sad to say he only found glittery minerals.
He goes on to say In the scriptures concerning treasure, we often read about not setting our hearts on riches and worldly things but
The Lord also says something astonishing. He says we are His treasure.
Elder Walker quotes Moses in the Old Testament
“His people would be a peculiar treasure unto Him if they would obey His voice and keep His covenant.”
I testify to you that I know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s greatest desire is to be with us. We read in the Pearl of Great Price, “This is my work and my glory to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of all of us [man]”
We are his peculiar treasure and why are we peculiar because we have made covenants to keep his commandments. In a world that is bombarded with temptation and distracting challenges, it can sometimes be very difficult to stay on the covenant path. But brothers and sisters we knew we were up for the task. I love the way Sister Elaine Dalton, former General Young Women’s President teaches, she says,
“You have been uniquely prepared to be on the earth at this time... you were part of the noble and great ones who fought a war and you won... Your weapon was your faith and your testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ."
She also has said, "We understood our Father's plan and knew that it was good. We not only chose it, but we defended it. We knew that our earthly missions would be fraught with temptation, challenges, and hardship, but we also knew that we would be blessed by the fulness of the gospel, living prophets, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost."
Elder Walker goes on and says this about covenants,
“Covenant faithfulness does more than identify us as God’s people—it empowers us to rise above the limitations of this fallen world."
Brothers and Sisters, I grew up in a home of converts. My dad grew up as Christian in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He went to church every Sunday. He was raised by his father with 4 other siblings. My dad's mother passed away when he was six months old. He joined the navy in high school. He came home and finished high school then re-entered the Navy. He later met my mom who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and wanted to know more about her church. He read the Book of Mormon and knew it it was another testament of Jesus Christ and was baptized into the church. My dad never tired in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved telling people about our faith.
My Dad also loved to sing and music was an important part of our life. In family home evening, we often sang "Choose the right when the choice place before you" also, "There is beauty all around when there’s love at home" or We thank thee oh God for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days." Some of my fondest memories are of singing in our home. Sometimes we’d ask my dad to sing an old hymn from his childhood and he would sing:
I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above
Of Jesus and his glory
Of Jesus and his love
I love to tell the story
Because I know 'tis true
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do
I love to tell the story
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and his love
Unfortunately, I didn’t always appreciate my dad’s character when I was growing up.
I wasn’t as outgoing as him about the gospel. I was shy and just wanted to fit in. I often ate lunch at school by myself, not really knowing how to connect with others. In grade school I was the only member of the church in my class.
Later in high school, more members of the church moved in our area and more people were converted. Part of that was my dad’s doing.
Earlier this week an old friend, one of my friends from high school, texted me out of the blue and we chatted about old times. I thanked her and her sister for being such good friends when I needed friends. Her sister also later texted me and told me she couldn’t believe that I was insecure in high school. She told me that our family was the standard that her family always looked up to us and she always thought that I was the cool one at school.
Ha, I definitely wasn't "the cool one"
I tell you this story not to give myself a pat on the back but to express to you how the adversary works. He wants our youth to feel confused and to be unaware of what a treasure we all are to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
As a youth, I've always felt like the church was my safe space. I could be myself and not have to worry about how I looked or how I acted. Even today, I dare say that I feel the same way. No matter where I've lived in my life, I have felt the comfort of the Spirit at church.
But brothers and sisters in some ways I believe we must seek to get out of are comfort zones and shine like the treasures we are.
We have a great opportunity with our new building being built. May we seize the opportunity and invite people to our meetings.
I’m truly grateful for the people the Lord has put in my life, my parents, grandparents, my husband, friends and my children and grandchildren because they truly are my examples, my treasures.
One of these treasures is my oldest daughter Angie.
At one time her class had this group reading a higher level book. Everyone in the group would take turns reading paragraphs out loud to each other from this book that the teacher had selected for them.
Well, Angie came home from school disturbed one day and told me something that was happening in her reading group. She said that several times in this book there were passages of using the Lord’s name in vane and this was upsetting to her. She thought that sometime while reading this book, she was going to have to read those words out loud. Usually I think I would have counseled her not to worry about it and tell her the importance of being in the world and not of the world. But instead, I listened to her and asked her, “well, what do you think you want to do about it” and she said “ I don’t think I should say those words.” To which I simply replied “well, do what you want to do. Do what you think is best” So when she went back to school the next day and her classmates were reading in their reading group and it came to be her turn to read, she noticed that her paragraph was going to have the Lord's name in vane. So, rather than read that part of her paragraph, she simply skipped those words entirely. Then as she finished reading, one of the other children in the group pointed it out and asked Angie why she didn’t read the whole part of her paragraph. Angie just simply said, I didn't want to say those words because I’ve been taught in church not to say the Lord's name in vane." After she spoke, other children spoke up and said, "I’ve been taught that at my church too" and others said, "me too!" Then, something special and miraculous happened in that 4th grade classroom that day... No one said the Lord’s name in vane. The other children skipped the words as well. The teacher of her class was so moved by these children that she said, "Let’s get a different book to read."
Elder Walker ends his talk by saying…
"I testify that as we obey the Savior's voice
and keep our covenants,
even by small and quiet sacrifices each day,
we will feel His love more deeply
and receive His guidance more clearly."
My dear brother and sisters, Keep the commandments, stay on the covenant path and recognize those people who believe in you and know that the Lord treasures you... in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
